Interactive skin for wearable

ABSTRACT

A wearable may be provided with or configured to provide interactive skin. The interactive skin may be configured for accepting touch input from a user. The interactive skin may include one or more flexible layers and may include or be mounted under a transparent display cover layer such as a layer of clear glass or plastic. Interactive skin may include a touch-sensitive layer that allows a user to provide touch input to the wearable. Display pixels on interactive skin may be used to display visual information to the user. The interactive skin may be configured for detecting a condition of at least one wearable and generating an output function in response to the detected condition.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Claim to Priority

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S.Non-prov. application Ser. No. 17/505,346, filed Oct. 19, 2021, now U.S.patent Ser. No.______, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety; U.S. Non-prov. application Ser. No. 17/505,346 claims priorityto U.S. Non-prov. application Ser. No. 15/955,487, filed Apr. 17, 2018,now U.S. patent Ser. No. 11/166,503, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety; U.S. Non-prov. application Ser. No.15/955,487 claims priority to three provisional applications:provisional Application Ser. No. 62/486,331 filed Apr. 17, 2017;provisional Application Ser. No. 62/489,330 filed Apr. 24, 2017; andprovisional Application Ser. No. 62/492,759 filed May 1, 2017; all threeprovisional applications are hereby incorporated by reference in theirentirety.

2. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to wearables, and moreparticularly, to wearables with interactive skin.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

A wearable is an item that may be worn or carried by a user. A wearablemay include clothing, footwear, handbags and accessories.

Clothing is a garment worn on a body. The garment may be men, women andchildren's clothing, a shirt, pants, dress, coat, jacket, parkas,uniforms, robes, costumes, swim suit, or other worn garments. Theclothing may be basics, such as underwear, or luxury items, for example,cashmere sweaters. Clothing may made up of textiles, animal skin, orother material including plastic, synthetic materials like plastic, thinsheets of materials put together, or other materials.

Footwear are items worn on the feet such as shoes, boots, and moccasins.Footwear may be made up of textiles, animal skin, or other materialincluding plastic, synthetic materials like plastic, thin sheets ofmaterials put together, or other materials.

Handbags are purses and bags used for carrying personal items such aspersonal articles, money, and electronic devices. Handbags may be in theform factor of a handbag, attaché cases, Handbags may be made up oftextiles, animal skin, or other material including plastic, syntheticmaterials like plastic, thin sheets of materials put together, or othermaterials.

Accessories may be items that are carried or worn with clothing,footwear, or handbags. Traditionally carried accessories includeumbrellas, cosmetic bags, luggage, eyewear, hand fans, parasols andumbrellas, wallets, canes, ceremonial swords and dog leashes.Accessories that may be worn include cravats, ties, hats bonnets, beltsand suspenders, gloves, mittens, muffs, jewelry,

watches, sashes, shawls, scarves, lanyards, socks, and stockingsjewelry, watches, dog collars.

The wearables may be made of different types of materials, and each oneis chosen for a different purpose. Important design criteria forwearables may include location on the wearer, function, appearance,fashion, lightweight, price, and environmentally friendly.

User demand for more luxurious and modern interiors and exteriors mayalso influence the wearables design.

There is a need for improved wearables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A wearable may be provided with or configured to provide an interactiveskin. The interactive skin may be configured for accepting touch inputfrom a user. The interactive skin may illustratively include one or moreflexible layers and may include or be mounted under a transparentdisplay cover layer such as a layer of clear glass or plastic. Theinteractive skin may include a touch-sensitive layer that allows a userto provide touch input to the wearable. Display pixels on interactiveskin may be used to display visual information to the user.

The interactive skin may be configured for detecting a condition of atleast one wearable and generating an output function in response to thedetected condition. The condition may be detected by a sensor. Theinteractive skin may be configured with display pixels used to displayvisual information to the user on the detected condition. Theinteractive skin may be configured with a touch-sensitive layer thatallows a user to provide touch input to the interactive skin to causethe interactive skin to check on the condition of one or more wearablesor of a condition of a body of the user or to respond to visualinformation provided to the user on the detected condition.

The interactive skin may be used to support infotainment, safety,communication connectivity within and without the wearable, and so on.The interactive skin may be used for displaying information and visualfeedback to a user and for accepting input from a user.

Active portions of the interactive skin may be used to create virtualuser interface controls such as buttons. During use, the buttons orother user input interface elements may be reconfigured. For instance,the user input interface elements may be repurposed for supporting userinput operations in different operating modes of the interactive skin.Virtual buttons may be provided. They may be provided additional to orin place of tactile input/output components such as physical buttons andswitches.

In operation, a virtual button may be a virtual volume button. Thevirtual button may control audio output volume. The virtual button maybe repurposed based on user input. For example, the virtual button maybe repurposed to become a virtual camera shutter button for taking apicture. As another example, the virtual button may be reconfigured toserve as a controller for another device function. Images displayed onthe interactive skin may indicate to a user which function is currentlybeing performed by the virtual button. Predetermined inputs to thetouch-sensitive layer such as tapping, sliding, swiping, or othermotions of an external object such as a finger across the interactiveskin may be used to change the operating mode of the interactive skin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows aspects of an illustrative wearable configured as or withan interactive skin in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C depict some illustrative handbags with which aninteractive skin of this disclosure may be used. FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2Ccollectively referred to herein as FIG. 2 .

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative interactive skin in accordance with anembodiment of this disclosure.

FIG. 4A depicts illustrative control circuitry coupled to an interactiveskin in accordance with an embodiment of this disclosure. FIG. 4Bdepicts remote control of an interactive skin according to thisdisclosure. FIGS. 4A and 4B, collectively referred to herein as FIG. 4 .

FIGS. 5A and 5B depict illustrative handbag with which an interactiveskin of this disclosure may be used. FIGS. 5A and 5B, collectivelyreferred to herein as FIG. 5 .

FIGS. 6A and 6B depict some illustrative uses of a wearable in the formfactor of a handbag with interactive skin in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 6A and 6B, collectivelyreferred to herein as FIG. 6 .

FIG. 7 depicts a block diagram of illustrative electronic components,circuitry, sensors, and connectors for use with the interactive skin ofthis disclosure.

FIG. 8A-FIG. 8F show aspects of an illustrative footwear configured asor with an interactive skin in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, 8D, 8E, and 8F collectivelyreferred to herein as FIG. 8 .

FIG. 9A-FIG. 9F show aspects of an illustrative apparel in the formfactor of a coat or a jacket configured as or with an interactive skinin accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 9A,9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, and 9F collectively referred to herein as FIG. 9 .

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B show aspects of an illustrative apparel in theform factor of a dress configured as or with an interactive skin inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 10A and10B collectively referred to herein as FIG. 10 .

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B show aspects of an illustrative accessory in theform factor of a name tag and necklace configured as or with aninteractive skin in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIGS. 11A and 11 b collectively referred to herein as FIG.11 .

FIG. 12A-FIG. 12F show aspects of an illustrative handbag for carryingan electronic component, in this example illustratively a casing forcarrying a smartphone, the casing configured as or with an interactiveskin in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG.12E shows aspects of an illustrative handbag for carrying an electroniccomponent in this example illustratively a casing for an iPad and acasing for a computing device, the casing configured as or with aninteractive skin in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIG. 12F depicts an exemplary electronic device. FIGS. 12A,12B, 12C, 12D, 12E and 12F are collectively referred to herein as FIG.12 .

FIG. 13 depicts some illustrative uses of interactive skin in detectinga condition of a wearable accordance with this disclosure.

FIG. 14 depicts an illustrative method for configuring a wearable withinteractive skin by remote computer

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part hereof. In the drawings, similarsymbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictatesotherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detaileddescription, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Otherembodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presentedherein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the presentdisclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in theFigures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designedin a wide variety of different configurations, all of which areexplicitly contemplated herein.

As used herein, a wearable is an item that may be worn or carried by auser. A wearable may include clothing, footwear, handbags andaccessories.

Clothing is a garment worn on a body. The garment may be a shirt, pants,dress, coat, jacket, or other worn garment, Clothing may made up oftextiles, animal skin, or other material including plastic, syntheticmaterials like plastic, thin sheets of materials put together, or othermaterials. Illustrative clothing include men, women and children'sclothing, a shirt, pants, dress, coat, jacket, parkas, uniforms, robes,costumes, swim suit, or other worn garments.

Footwear are items worn on the feet such as shoes and boots. Footwearmay be made up of textiles, animal skin, or other material includingplastic, synthetic materials like plastic, thin sheets of materials puttogether, or other materials. Illustrative footwear may include AdidasKampung, Ballet shoe, Pointe shoe, Bast shoe, Blucher shoe, Boat shoe,Brogan (shoes), Brogue shoe, Brothel creeper, Bucks, Calceology,Cantabrian albarcas, Chopine, Climbing shoe, Clog, Court shoe, Crosscountry running shoe, Derby shoe, Diabetic shoe, Dori shoes Dress shoe,Driving moccasins, Earth shoe, Elevator shoes, Espadrille, Fashion boot,Galesh, Giveh, heels, pumps, platform shoes, High-heeled footweartraditional galesh, high-heeled shoes with a stiletto heel, jelly shoes,moccasin, soft-soled moccasin, side gusset slip on shoes, Huarache(shoe), Jazz shoe, Jumpsoles, Jutti, Kitten heel, Kolhapuri Chappal,Kung fu shoe, Loafers, Lotus shoes, Mary Jane (shoe), Mojari, Moccasin,Monk shoe, Mule (shoe), Opanak, Opinga, Organ shoes, Orthopaedicfootwear, Over-the-knee boot, Oxford shoe, Pampootie, Peranakan beadedslippers, Peshawari chappal, Platform shoe, Pointed shoe, Pointinini,Rocker bottom shoe, Ruby slippers, Russian boot, Saddle shoe, Sandal,Silver Shoes, Slip-on shoe, Slipper, Sneakers (footwear), Snow boot,Spectator shoe, Steel-toe boot, T-bar sandal, Tiger-head shoes, Toeshoe, Tsarouhi, Turnshoe, Venetian-style shoe, Winklepicker, Worishofer,clogs, or any other type of footwear.

Handbags are purses and bags used for carrying personal items such aspersonal articles, money, electronic devices, etc. Handbags may be madeup of textiles, animal skin, or other material including plastic,synthetic materials like plastic, thin sheets of materials put together,or other materials. Illustrative women's handbags may include shoulderbag, satchel, sling bag, quilted bag, clutch, minaudiere, hobo bag,wristlet, beach bag, shopper, bucket, messenger, wallet or purse.Handbags may include tote bag, duffle bag, messenger bag, backpack,doctor's bag, trial bag, laptop bag, bucket bag, bowler bag, pouch,saddle bag, shopping/grocery bag, drawstring bag, make-up bag, foldoverbag, phone bag, camera case bag, baguette bags, barrel bag, basket bag,attache case, luggage, Kelly bag. Handbags may include wheeled duffelbag, wheeled luggage, wheeled backpack, travel pack, day pack,briefcase, travel tote, designer luggage, messenger bag, ravel laptopcase, suitcase, garment bag, carpet bag, rolling suitcase.

Illustrative electronic devices that may be carried by a handbag includemobile electronic devices, mobile internet devices, tablets,smartphones, cellphones, laptops, personal digital assistants,enterprise digital assistants, calculators, handheld game consoles,portable game consoles, portable media players, ultra-mobile PCs,digital media player, digital still cameras (DSC), digital video cameras(DVC) or digital camcorders, phones, pagers, personal navigation devices(PND), projectors, portable display devices, monitors.

Accessories may be items that are carried or worn with clothing,footwear, or handbags. Traditionally carried accessories includeeyewear, hand fans, parasols and umbrellas, wallets, canes, andceremonial swords. Accessories that may be worn include cravats, ties,hats, bonnets, belts and suspenders, gloves, muffs, jewelry, key chains,name plates, lighters, watches, sashes, shawls, scarves, lanyards,socks, and stockings.

A wearable may be provided with or configured to provide an interactiveskin. The interactive skin may be configured for accepting touch inputfrom a user. The interactive skin may illustratively include one or moreflexible layers and may include or be mounted under a transparentdisplay cover layer such as a layer of clear glass or plastic. Thetransparent layer may be configured to hermetically seal,environmentally protect, and so on, the flexible layers lying under thetransparent layer. The interactive skin may include a touch-sensitivelayer that allows a user to provide touch input to the wearable. Displaypixels on interactive skin may be used to display visual information tothe user.

Interactive skins may be configured for detecting a condition of atleast one wearable and generating an output function in response to thedetected condition. The condition may be detected by a sensor.Interactive skins may be configured with display pixels used to displayvisual information to the user on the detected condition. Interactiveskins may be configured with a touch-sensitive layer that allows a userto provide touch input to the interactive skin to cause the interactiveskin to check on the condition of one or more wearables or of acondition of a wearable or to respond to visual information provided tothe user on the detected condition.

The interactive skin may be used to support infotainment, safety,communication connectivity within and without the wearable, and so on.The interactive skin may be used for displaying information and visualfeedback to a user and for accepting input from a user.

Active portions of the interactive skin may be used to create virtualuser interface controls such as buttons. During use, the buttons orother user input interface elements may be reconfigured. For instance,the user input interface elements may be repurposed for supporting userinput operations in different operating modes of the interactive skin.Virtual buttons may be provided. They may be provided additional to orin place of tactile input/output components such as physical buttons andswitches.

In operation, a virtual button may be a virtual volume button. Thevirtual button may control audio output volume. The virtual button maybe repurposed based on user input. For example, the virtual button maybe repurposed to become a virtual camera shutter button for taking apicture. As another example, the virtual button may be reconfigured toserve as a controller for another device function. Images displayed onthe interactive skin may indicate to a user which function is currentlybeing performed by the virtual button. Predetermined inputs to thetouch-sensitive layer such as tapping, sliding, swiping, or othermotions of an external object such as a finger across the interactiveskin may be used to change the operating mode of the interactive skin.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative wearable 10 that may be provided with aninteractive skin 20 of this disclosure. Wearable 10 may illustrativelybe a tote bag or other large bag for carrying items. Alternatively,wearable 10 may be a purse or any other bag used for carrying personalitems such as personal articles, money, and electronic devices. Seedefinition of wearable above for other illustrative wearables for usewith this disclosure.

Wearable 10 may include a front panel 12, a back panel 14, and a pair ofhandles or straps, one with portions 16, 18 having terminating ends 17,19 that may be attached to the front panel of the handbag. The otherpair of straps is not shown.

FIG. 2 shows front panel 12 of a wearable in the form factor of handbag10 shown in FIG. 1A adapted with the interactive skin 20 in twoillustrative configurations. In FIG. 2A, interactive skin 20 is depictedas in FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 2A, interactive skin 20 may overlay orbe received within or form an integrated part of a portion of the frontpanel 12 of the wearable in the form factor of handbag 10.

In an alternative illustrative embodiment depicted in FIG. 2B,interactive skin 20 may overlay or be received within or form anintegrated part of substantially all or all of the front panel of thewearable in the form factor of handbag 10. In either or otherembodiments, illustratively, interactive skin 20 may be bent to contourthe panel of the wearable. Alternatively, interactive skin 20 may beconfigured to provide the panel of the wearable with a predeterminedcontour.

In FIGS. 2A and 2B, interactive skin 20 may overlay or be receivedwithin or form an integrated part of substantially all or all of anoutside portion of the wearable in the form factor of handbag 10. FIG.2C depicts interactive skin 20 may overlay or be received within or forman integrated part of substantially all or all of wearable in the formfactor of handbag 10. Wearable in the form factor of handbag 10 isdepicted in FIG. 2C both in a closed position 10 a and an open position10 b. Best seen in the closed position 10 a in FIG. 2C, wearable in theform factor of handbag 10 includes a side panel 12 including an upperedge 13, a handle 19, and a clasp 18. Best seen in the open position 10b in FIG. 2C, wearable in the form factor of handbag 10 includes aninteractive skin 20 that extends along an inside portion of the wearablein the form factor of handbag 10. Alternatively, interactive skin 20 mayoverlay or be received within or form an integrated part ofsubstantially all or all of any inside portion of the wearable in theform factor of handbag 10. As the open position 10 b in FIG. 2C alsoshows, wearable in the form factor of handbag 10 further includes a sideportion 16 opposite side portion 12, and front portion 15 and backportion 17. Handle 19 depicted in the closed position 10 a is seen inthe open position of the wearable to include a pair of handles 19 a and19 b, one attached to each of side portion 12 and side portion 16. Inthe closed position 10 b, these handles are brought together andillustratively grasped by a user for carrying.

In an illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2C, the entire wearable in theform factor of handbag 10 may be constructed from an interactive skin.For instance, an interactive skin depicted in FIG. 2C may be configuredto provide the side portion 16, the opposite side portion 12, and thefront portion 15 and the back portion 16. Interactive skin may also beprovided on the pair of handles 19 a and 19 b. In such case where theloading created by grasping the handles comes into play, the loading maybe distributed about the interactive skin down to the panels through theuse of ribbings, for example, as explained later in this disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 3 , interactive skin 20 may be formed from multiplelayers of material. The interactive skin 20 may be formed by stackingmultiple layers.

In the illustrative embodiment, the interactive skin may include aflexible display layer 22, a touch sensitive layer 24, and a transparentdisplay cover layer 26. The flexible display layer 22 may include adisplay pixel array 22 which may, for example, be an organiclight-emitting diode (OLED) array. Other types of interactive skin pixelarrays may also be formed. For example, the image pixels may be formedfrom light-emitting diodes, plasma cells, electronic ink elements,liquid crystal display components, or other suitable image pixelstructures compatible with the interactive skin. The flexible displaylayer may illustratively be formed using flexible sheets of polymer orother substrates having thicknesses of 10 microns to 0.5 mm or othersuitable thicknesses.

The touch sensitive layer 24 may be a layer on which a pattern of indiumtin oxide (ITO) electrodes or other suitable transparent electrodes havebeen deposited to form a capacitive touch sensor array. As depicted inFIG. 3 , touch sensitive layer 24 may incorporate capacitive touchelectrodes such as horizontal transparent electrodes 34 and verticaltransparent electrodes 36. Touch sensitive layer may be configured todetect the location of one or more touches or near touches on touchsensitive later 24. Detection may be based on capacitive, resistive,optical, acoustic, inductive, or mechanical measurements, or any basisthat can be measured with respect to the occurrence of one or moretouches or near touches in proximity to the touch sensitive layer 24.The touch sensitive layer may illustratively be formed using flexiblesheets of polymer or other substrates having thicknesses of 10 micronsto 0.5 mm or other suitable thicknesses.

Software and/or hardware may be used to process the measurements to thedetected touches to identify and track the one or more touches or neartouches. A gesture may occur by moving one or more fingers or otherobjects in a particular manner on touch sensitive layer 24. Examples ofgestures include tapping, pressing, and rocking. It may also includescrubbing, twisting, and changing orientation. It may include pressingwith varying pressure and the like at essentially the same time,contiguously, or consecutively. A gesture may illustratively becharacterized by a pinching, sliding, swiping, rotating, flexing,dragging, or tapping motion between or with any other finger or fingers.A single gesture may be performed in a variety of ways. For instance,with one or more hands, by one or more users, or any combinationthereof.

In addition to flexible display layer 22 and touch sensitive layer 24,interactive skin 20 may include one or more structural layers. Forexample, interactive skin 20 may include the transparent display coverlayer 26. In other words, flexible display layer 22 and touch sensitivelayer 24 may be covered with a flexible or rigid cover layer. Thetransparent display cover layer 26 may be formed from a glass or plasticand may be flexible but alternatively may be rigid. The transparentlayer may be configured to hermetically seal, environmentally protect,and so on, the flexible layers lying under the transparent layer.

In addition, flexible display layer 22 and touch sensitive layer 24 mayinclude one or more structural layers. Flexible display layer 22 andtouch sensitive layer 24 may be mounted on a support structure. Forexample they may be mounted on a rigid support. Layers of adhesive maybe used in attaching interactive skin layers to each other and may beused in mounting interactive skin layers to rigid and flexiblestructural layers. The structural layer may be a wearable to which theinteractive skin is attached.

Alternatively, interactive skin may be integrated with a materialconfigured to provide more structure to the interactive skin. Forinstance, the interactive skin may be integrated into injection-moldedplastics. In this embodiment, the integrated structure may provide bothinteractive skin and support structure.

Where the cover layer for interactive skin 20 is flexible, input-outputcomponents that rely on the presence of flexible layers may be mountedat any suitable location under the interactive skin. For example, theymay be mounted along peripheral portions of the interactive skin, in acentral portion of the interactive skin, and so on. For example, aspeaker component may be mounted, for example, to the wearableillustratively under, along side of, or in proximity to the interactiveskin. In another embodiment, input-output components may be remotelylocated and associated with the interactive skin.

Where the flexible layers are covered by a rigid cover glass layer orother rigid cover layer, one or more openings may be provided in therigid layer and electronic components may be mounted for example, to thewearable under the openings of the interactive skin.

The openings in interactive skin and/or wearable may accommodateelectronic components like volume, ringer, sleep, other buttons;openings for an audio jack, data port connectors, removable media slots;camera; sensors; microphone; speaker; and so on. With or withoutopenings, FIG. 7 depicts illustrative electronic components that may beaccommodated by interactive skin and/or wearable. One or more componentsmay be configured in a housing connected to or associated with thewearable. The one or more components may be distributed along or aboutthe wearable such as about the interactive skin. The one or morecomponents may be distributed in an injection-molded plasticincorporating both interactive skin and support structure. The one ormore components may be provided by a computing device like a smart phoneor remote computing device.

FIG. 2A shows that interactive skin 20 may bend into and run under orinside the wearable. For example, interactive skin 20 is seen to extendalong wearable, bend into the wearable, extend under portion 225 of thewearable and a portion of interactive skin 222 may be visible throughopening 221 of the wearable.

Illustratively, a portion 222 of interactive skin may be configured toinclude virtual buttons, virtual switches, scrolling displays, and soon. Alternatively, these features may be provided in other portions ofinteractive skin, like portion 221. The openings 221 that may be createdin the wearable may be round openings, rectilinear openings, oval shapedor oddly shaped openings, and so on.

Display portions of interactive skin 20 may be separated from otherportions of interactive skin 20. This may illustratively be done byusing a printed or painted mask on an internal surface of the coverlayer. Alternatively, portions of the interactive skin may be separatedby selectively activating and inactivating display pixels. This maycreate virtual borders, virtual sections, or other visual delineationsbetween portions of interactive skin 20.

In some embodiments, portions of interactive skin 20 such as peripheralregions may be inactive. Other portions of interactive skin 20 such as arectangular central portion may correspond to an active part ofinteractive skin 20. In the active region, an array of image pixels maybe used to present text and images to a user of interactive skin 20. Inthe active region, interactive skin 20 may include touch sensitivecomponents. These components may allow for input and interaction with auser of interactive skin 20. In an alternative embodiment, the activeregion may include sensors for detecting conditions as explained laterin this disclosure.

In another illustrative embodiment, all or substantially all of theinteractive skin 20 may be covered with display pixels. Edge portions ofinteractive skin 20 may contain portions of the array of image pixelsfor presenting to present text and images to a user of interactive skin20. The edge portions may also include touch-sensitive components forinput and interaction with a user of interactive skin 20.

FIG. 4A shows how interactive skin 20 may be coupled to controlcircuitry such as control circuitry 580 associated with the interactiveskin 20. The control circuitry may be dedicated to the interactive skin.Alternatively, a plurality of interactive skins according to thisdisclosure may have a dedicated controller. In another illustrativeembodiment, a controller may be provided in a wearable and may be inelectrical communication with the interactive skin and may control thefunctioning of the interactive skin. In another embodiment, thecontroller may be a smart phone that may be in electrical communicationwith the interactive skin of this disclosure.

In another embodiment depicted in FIG. 4B, the controller may be aremote computing device such as computing device 437 or server 431 thatmay recognize and establish electrical communication with communicationcircuitry associated with an interactive skin of a wearable explainedbelow. For example, computing device 437 in a restaurant, a store, ahotel, an office, a business establishment, a home, a building, or inany location, inside or outside, may establish an electricalcommunication with the wearable through the communication circuitryassociated with the interactive skin.

Alternatively, server 431 may do the same, a communication link in thatcase may go through an access point 434 and across Internet 433.Communication may go through a base station 435 and over a cellularnetwork if for example server 431 or communication circuitry associatedwith an interactive skin are configured to communicate in that way.Communication from server 431 may go through computing device 437, whichmay be a personal computer, a mobile terminal like a smart phone orother computer device. Alternatively, server 431 may communicate withcommunication circuitry associated with an interactive skin of awearable through an Ethernet or other network connection. In anillustrative embodiment, computing device 437 may be in a restaurant, anoffice, a home, or outside location and configured to recognize andestablish an electrical communication with all wearables in thatlocation. The computing device may be configured to cause one or morewearables with interactive skin within range to change someconfiguration. For instance, if the event is a party at a restaurant oroffice lunch room, the computing device may change the configuration ofone or more detected wearables with interactive skin to a color orpattern of colors for a theme for the party. In one illustrativeexample, if the party is for a 7 year old girl at a restaurant, one ormore or all of the wearables of the girls in attendance may beconfigured by the computing device to display pink so that all the girlsshow pink.

By “all of the wearables” is meant that a 7 year girl in this example,may wear more than one wearable with interactive skin. For example, shemay wear a wearable in the form factor of a shirt with interactive skinof this disclosure, a wearable in the form factor of tennis shoes withinteractive skin of this disclosure, a wearable in the form factor of adress with interactive skin of this disclosure, a wearable in the formfactor of a necklace with interactive skin of this disclosure and carrya wearable in the form factor of a handbag with interactive skin of thisdisclosure. In addition, at the restaurant, she may be given a wearablein the form factor of a nameplate with interactive skin of thisdisclosure. Computing device 437 may configure any one or more of thewearables of this girl and others in accordance with a color or patternof colors or display of images, sounding of audibles, statically ordynamically, etc. according to this disclosure.

In another example, a computing device at an outdoor St. Patrick's Daygathering may configure one or all of the wearables detected by thecomputing device to display green so that all the configured wearablesshow green. The wearables with interactive skin may be configured withany color, audible sound, image, video, text and in other ways accordingto this disclosure.

In an illustrative embodiment, a computing device in a store, such as agrocery, department, or supply goods store, may detect a wearable withan interactive skin and communicate with the person associated with thatwearable through the interactive skin. For instance, where, for example,the interactive skin is on a sleeve of an article of clothing, thecomputing device may communicate with the person associated with theperson by displaying information on the interactive skin about itemsthat may be of interest to the person.

In another embodiment, information on user buying behavior andpreference may be collected and be accessible by a computing device in astore computer. FIG. 4B shows one database stored in a memory 436associated for example, with computing device 437 or server 431, orboth. The memory 436 may be populated with information on the wearable.In the illustrative example, the memory 436 may include information onthe user (or purchaser of the wearable or both), the form factor of thewearable, the date of the last visit of the user (or the wearable) tothe store, the stores the wearable has been identified at (if the systemtracks more than one store), the last purchase done by a person wearingthat wearable, the items purchase (including for example, whenpurchased, price, discount coupons used, sales promotional discountsapplicable, where purchased), user demographics, demographicpreferences, preferences of the wearer of the wearable, information thatthe store may want to communicate such as upcoming sales, productdiscounts, historical purchasing information, historical preferences ofa user, and so on, On detection of a wearable skin of a user in thestore, the computing device of the store may send the interactive skininformation on items on sale, etc. that may be of interest to the userbased upon, for example, user preferences or prior shopping patterns ofthe user.

The computing device or server 431 may also track information fromsensors associated with the wearable with interactive skin to track thelocation of the wearable in the store or another location. In this waythe store may be able to collect data on what sections of a store a userof the wearable visits, for how long, and so on. This gatheredinformation may be stored in memory 436 depicted in FIG. 4B and used bythe store for marketing, promotional, or other purposes. For instance, auser of a wearable with an interactive skin of this disclosure may spend30% of her time in a store at the make-up counter which may indicate aparticular interest of the user of the wearable in make-up. The storemay use this information on interest in make-up in promoting make-up,sales, discounts, etc. to the user. This may occur when the user of thewearable is identified to be on premises. It may also occur when theuser is not on premises. For instance the store may text thisinformation to a user of the wearable even if not on site. As anotherexample, the store may post this information through an applicationdownloaded by the user of the wearable.

In another embodiment, an interactive skin of a wearable communicateswirelessly through the internet to a remote computer on a network asdepicted in FIG. 4B. On entering a store in a network, the interactiveskin may be wirelessly detected by the network computer through wirelesscommunication by the interactive skin to the network computer (e.g.,server 431) over the internet 433 through access point 434 in the store.On detection of a wearable skin of a user in the store, the networkcomputing device may send the interactive skin information on items onsale, etc. that may be of interest to the user based upon, for example,user preferences or prior shopping patterns of the user.

The user of the wearable may also communicate with computing device 437and server 431. For instance, a user wearing a wearable in the formfactor of a coat with interactive skin on an inside sleeve as disclosedin FIGS. 9C-9F, for example, on entering a store may touch a button(like a virtual button as disclosed herein) on the interactive skin tocause the interactive skin to display a window configured to receiveinformation entered by the user and to communicate the enteredinformation to the computing device or server or both. For instance, anapplication provided by the store and downloaded and executed by controlcircuitry 580 as explained in this disclosure may be opened up by usertouches of the interactive skin and virtual buttons, for instance.Touches of these or other buttons associated with the interactive skinmay be used to bring up a window for entering user information. A usermay enter the information into the window and send the information tothe computing device 437 or server 431 or both. Alternatively, memoryassociated with the control circuitry 580 may store a cellular phonenumber of the store which the user may text message using the virtualbuttons, for example, on the interactive skin. In this case thecommunication circuitry associated with the wearable may be configuredfor cellular communication as explained in this disclosure. In these andother ways, a user of a wearable interacts with a computing device orserver at any location to improve the experience there.

The computing device or network computer may collect shopping, buyer,purchase preferences, marketing, and so on information on the userassociated with the wearable. Information, such as depicted in memory436 in FIG. 4B may be gathered by the computing device or server or bothon the user of the wearable. The information may be updated withinformation gathered on visits. The visits may be to a store configuredwith a computing device 437 depicted in FIG. 4B, a network of storesthat may be configured to server 431, or to any location.

Information may be gathered from any location. For example, a computingdevice at a park, may detect a wearable with interactive skin of thisdisclosure and gather information on the wearable such as what activitydid the user engage in (e.g., jogging, walking, tennis, etc.), whatlevel of intensity was the activity (e.g., force sensors associated withthe wearable in the form factor of footwear may register forcesgenerated by the user on the footwear which the wearable may communicateto the computing device at the park), duration of activity, duration ofdifferent levels of activity, etc. The computing device at park maycommunicate this information gathered on the wearable to a remotecomputing device, such as at a footwear store or a network of computingdevices, such as a network of stores selling footwear. The computingdevice or network computing device or both may create a new record onthe wearable if one does not exist or add this information to the recordof information the network computing device may already have on thewearable.

In combination, a wearable with interactive skin and a remote or othercomputing device may form a system for interacting with the wearablewith interactive skin of this disclosure. In an illustrative embodiment,the system tracks the activities of a wearable with interactive skin.For example, a wearable in the form factor of a pair of Calvin Kleinjeans having an interactive skin may enable the system to detect theform factor of the wearable and communicate information to theinteractive skin on the wearable on sales going on in the store onCalvin Klein jeans, jeans or on other wearables that may be associatedwith Calving Klein or other jeans, such as a sale on Calvin Kleinbranded or other belts, shirts, and so on. The information may bereceived through communication circuitry associated with the wearablewith interactive skin and displayed on a display on the interactive skinon the wearable, a pair of jeans in this example. For example, aninteractive skin may reside along the front side of an upper leg portionof a jean. Receipt of an alert an output associated with the interactiveskin may prompt the user to read the information displayed on theinteractive skin received from the computing device.

In an illustrative embodiment, the information displayed on theinteractive skin may be rendered in way that may be easiest for the userto decipher. For instance, where the wearable in the form factor of pairof j eans with interactive skin may be rendered upside down with respectto the ground so that a user can lean over and read the information onthe interactive skin on the pair of jeans more easily. Where thewearable is a shirt or a coat and the interactive skin is along aninside portion of the sleeve, the information displayed, such as linesof textual information, may run along the length of the sleeve or runacross the width of the sleeve. In an illustrative embodiment, the linesrun across the width of the sleeve and are upside down with respect tothe hand so that a user may bend the sleeve toward the user to allow theinformation to be more easily read.

In one illustrative embodiment, information about the wearable such asthe form factor may be stored in a memory associated with the wearableas described in this disclosure. The information about the wearable mayinclude any information including the make, model of the wearable, dateof purchase, owner of the wearable, user of the wearable, and so on.Information on the wearable may be entered into and stored in one ormore memory associated with the wearable using an interface rendered onthe interactive skin or through another display as described in thisdisclosure.

In one illustrative embodiment, a computing device in a system ofcomputing device and wearable with interactive skin of this disclosuredetects a wearable with interactive skin, identifies the purchaser ofthe wearable, determines the user buying history, user preferences, andso on, and sends information to the wearable skin with interactive skinof this disclosure based on this determination. In this example, thecomputing device may collect information about the different wearableswith interactive skin that may be used by the user, recognize a repeatcustomer, for example, despite the user wearing different wearable todifferent stores, for example, on different visits, for example,including at different times of the year. In another example, the systemtracks the purchaser of the wearable. Where for example, a mother buys apair of j eans for her daughter, the instant illustrative trackingsystem may track the activities of the mother, the daughter or both inone or more stores as well as track other information associated withthe wearable such as how many customers come to a store with a wearablein the form factor of a Giorgio Armani® handbag.

In yet another example, the system may track the sections of a storefrequented by a user of a wearable with interactive skin of thisdisclosure to determine sections of interest to the wearer and then sendinformation to the wearable with interactive skin of this disclosurebased upon this information. For example, if collected informationindicates the user spends a lot of time in the make-up or woman'sclothing section of a store, the system may send information to the userthrough the wearable with interactive skin of this disclosure aboutthose sections, such as sales going on there, which may inform the userand lead to more sales.

Frequency of visited sections, type of wearable being worn, and otherinformation available on the wearable with interactive skin throughmemory associated therewith may enable a system of wearable withinteractive skin of this disclosure and a computing device to improvethe experience of a store visit for customer, store, and others. Forexample, a system may collect, aggregate, and correlate information froma plurality of consumers using wearables with interactive skin todemographics, preferences by demographics, etc. in order to enable thesystem to communicate information to a wearable with interactive skinbased on targeted demographics, age, demographic preferences, agepreferences and so on.

For instance, if the user is a girl, the information may be targeted topreferences of girls. In another example, if the user is a teenagedgirl, the information may be targeted to teenaged girls. If the user isa senior citizen, the information may be so targeted. Users of differentethnicities may be targeted with information of particular interest tosuch users—for example, Indian, Mexican, or Hungarian food items. Usersof different income brackets may be targeted with information based upontheir income. For example, a computing device or server in a system ofwearables with interactive skin of this disclosure may send informationon a medium priced good wine to a user of a wearable with interactiveskin who is for instance in a lower income bracket or who hasinformation in the system concerning a preference for medium priced goodwine, income bracket notwithstanding. In another example, a computingdevice or server in a system of wearables with interactive skin of thisdisclosure may send information on a high priced excellent wine to auser of a wearable with interactive skin who is for instance in a higherincome bracket or who has information in the system concerning apreference for high priced excellent wine, income bracketnotwithstanding.

In another illustrative example, the user of the wearable withinteractive skin may program the wearable with preferences of the user.For example, if a user prefers Thai food, the wearable may be programmedwith that preference. In this illustrative example, on detection of theuser with this wearable, the computing device may send to the userthrough the wearable with interactive skin information about Thai fooditems in the store.

In an illustrative example, the user of a wearable with interactive skinon the inner sleeve of his shirt and having a preference for Thai foodmay be driving his car. A computing device in a Thai restaurant in thevicinity of the car may recognize the user wearing a wearable withinteractive skin of this disclosure, establish a communication link asdescribed in this disclosure, gather information on the wearable, detectthat the user likes Thai food, and send a message to the wearable withinteractive skin that the user is near a Thai restaurant.

The communication link may be established, by for example, anapplication running on computing device associated with the wearable,including a control circuitry 580 as depicted in FIG. 4A and associatedmemory and communication circuitry. As explained in this disclosure, thecomputing device may be dedicated to a wearable with interactive skin ofthis disclosure, may control a distributed plurality of wearables withinteractive skin of this disclosure, may be a mobile or other computingdevice in the vicinity of the wearable with interactive skin of thisdisclosure or remote from the wearable with interactive skin of thisdisclosure, such as server, or other computing device. The informationfrom the computing device associated with the Thai restaurant may becommunicated to the wearable with interactive skin and displayed on thesleeve of the user of the wearable.

The wearable with interactive skin of this disclosure may be configuredto communicate with any computing device. The wearable with interactiveskin may communicate with a computing device while in a grocery store, adepartment store, a supply store, or other store. The wearable withinteractive skin may communicate with a computing device while in ahouse or apartment, an office or building, in a vehicle. The wearablewith interactive skin may communicate with a computing device anywherethat the wearable with interactive skin may establish communication witha computing device.

In another illustrative example, the information programmed into memoryassociated with the wearable may include the smart phone number of thesmart phone of the user of the wearable. After receiving informationfrom the wearable with interactive skin in the manner explained in thisdisclosure, the computing device may communication information to theuser by sending information to the smart phone of the user, such as bytexting the user.

In one illustrative method depicted in FIG. 14 , (a) a memory associatedwith a wearable with interactive skin is programmed with informationabout the wearable such as the identity of the purchaser and/or userassociated with the wearable form factor, the form factor of thewearable; the shopping, buyer, purchaser, user preferences, marketing,etc., the smartphone number of the purchaser and/or user; the make,model of the wearable, date of purchase, owner of the wearable, etc. (b)A wearable with interactive skin is detected such as by a computingdevice. (c) Information on the wearable is determined such as by acomputing device. (d) The determined information is compared to theprogrammed information such as by a computing device, (e) information issent to the interactive skin on the wearable based on the comparison.The information on the user in the memory associated with the computingdevice may include buying history information on the user buyinghistory, user preferences, store visits, demographics, previously storeduser preferences, time spent at a particular section of a store, and soon.

In another illustrative embodiment, information on in memory associatedwith a wearable with an interactive skin may be accessed by authoritiesfor law enforcement, legal, or other purposes. For instance, if awearable with interactive skin is stolen, a remote computer incommunication with the wearable with interactive skin may track thewearable through GPS sensors, location tracking, and other ways to findthe wearable with interactive skin and the thief in accordance with theteachings of this disclosure.

Turning back to FIG. 4A, the communication link between controller andthe interactive skin may be created by wire, wireless, or by opticalcommunication. In wireless and optical embodiments, the interactive skinmay be provided with communication circuitry such as wirelesscommunication hardware and associated software to communicatewirelessly, such as by WiFi, WAN, blue tooth or other wirelesscommunication technology. This in order to allow a controller to controlthe interactive skin.

Control circuitry 580 may illustratively include memory storage.Examples of storage include flash memory, hard disk drive memory, andsolid state storage devices. It also includes other nonvolatile memory,random-access memory and other volatile memory, and so on.

Control circuitry 580 may also include processing circuitry. Theprocessing circuitry of control circuitry 580 may includemicroprocessors, digital signal processors, microcontrollers,application specific integrated circuits. It may also include powermanagement unit (PMU) circuits, and processing circuitry that is part ofother types of integrated circuits.

Control circuitry 580 controls and may be preprogrammed withinstructions stored in a memory for execution by a processor incontrolling the interactive skin, such as what content is displayed onthe interactive skin. The control circuit also enables the interactivedisplay to be controlled by a user. Illustratively, control is by userinteraction with the interactive skin.

In one embodiment, the display rendered on interactive skin aspreviously explained provides a user interface for controlling theinteractive skin. But as previously explained, interactive skin 20 maybe controlled from within or without the wearable, such as by using aprogramming display 590 inside or outside the wearable to program theinteractive skin. Communication between the controller and theinteractive skin may be as previously explained.

Control circuitry 580 may be used to run software such as internetbrowsing applications and voice-over-internet-protocol (VOW) telephonecall applications. The control circuitry may be used to run softwaresuch as email applications, media playback applications, operatingsystem functions, and so on.

Control circuitry 580 may be used to configure and operate displaypixels and touch sensitive elements associated with touch-sensitiveinteractive skin 20. For example, control circuitry 580 may be used toilluminate or inactivate portions of interactive skin 20 to createactive and inactive regions. As another example, control circuitry 580may be used to change the operating mode of the interactive skin and/orthe functional mode of interactive skin 20 based on, for example,touch-input to touch-sensitive interactive skin 20 or other user input.For example, when a user touches a virtual button on either theinteractive skin 20 or on programming display 590, control circuitry 580may take appropriate action. For example, contact between a user fingeror other external object and a virtual button may direct the interactiveskin 20 to take actions such as displaying information for a user. Itmay make a volume adjustment to media that is being played to the user.It may control media playback. It may take an action associated with awireless communications session. Alternatively, it may take othersuitable action.

One or more virtual buttons such as virtual button on the interactiveskin 20 may be used to form volume adjustment switches such as slidingcontrols. It may form ringer s, on/off s, sleep buttons. It may alsoform customized buttons which may be specific to a particular program oroperating system and that may change in real time during use ofinteractive skin 20. In another embodiment, virtual buttons may belabeled such as with particular colors, patterns, icons, text, or otherinformation. This may assist a user in identifying the function of thebutton.

Touch-sensitive interactive skin 20 may have regions blocked from viewusing masking structures. For instance, portions of the wearable mayblock regions from view, such as portion 225 in FIG. 2A. Alternatively,a patterned opaque masking layer may be used. Regions may also be formedby inactive pixels. Control circuitry 580 may be used to configuretouch-sensitive interactive skin to have regions with inactive pixels.As shown in FIG. 4A, regions may be controlled, by electrical signalsapplied by control circuitry to conductive traces 522.

Conductive traces 522 may be electrically coupled to control circuitry580. Conductive traces may be control lines for display pixels inregions. Interactive skin 20 may have additional control circuitry suchas control lines, drive lines, and so on along a peripheral edge ofinteractive skin 20. Providing interactive skin 20 with controlcircuitry in regions may reduce the area required for control circuitryon the peripheral edge of interactive skin 20. Providing interactiveskin 20 with control circuitry in regions may also allow for multipledisplays. Control circuitry may also control a plurality of interactiveskins within or outside the wearable. They may be coupled to controlcircuitry 580 using a common interconnect. Connecting multiple displaysto control circuitry 580 using a common interconnect may help reduce thespace required for interconnects.

As shown in FIG. 4A, side surface display portions 524 may includeilluminated touch-sensitive regions 526. Control circuitry 580 may beused to configure touch sensitive interactive skin 20 to illuminatepixels in illuminated touch-sensitive regions 526 and to turn off, ormake inactive, remaining pixels in side display portions 524.Illuminating pixels in illuminated touch-sensitive regions 526 andmaking inactive other pixels in side display portions 524 may separatecenter surface display portion 522 from illuminated touch-sensitiveregions 526.

Illuminated touch-sensitive regions 526 may be configured to remainstationary in side surface display portions 524 or may be repositionedin side surface display portions 524 during normal use of interactiveskin 20 using control circuitry 480. If desired, illuminated touchsensitive regions 526 may occupy all or substantially all of sidesurface display portions 524. Virtual buttons 526 may be reconfiguredduring use of interactive skin 520. For example, interactive skin 520may use side region 524 to display a first set of buttons when operatedin one mode and may use region 524 to display a second set of buttonswhich may be different when operated in another mode.

A touch-sensitive region 524 may be used to form one or more selectionbuttons for selecting a software application to be run on interactiveskin 20 using control circuitry 580. Selection buttons may includeilluminated icons associate with selected software applications. Thesoftware applications may include text messaging, calendar, camera, andcalculator. They may include media player, web browser, email client,cellular telephone, or other software applications. A selected softwareapplication may be activated using a touch input to a portion ofilluminated touch-sensitive region 526 associated with a selectedselection button. Alternatively it may be activated by touching a regionon programming display 590 of control circuitry 580 or by a manualkeyboard entry mechanism. For instance, selecting a camera applicationbutton on interactive skin may cause selection buttons on illuminatedtouch-sensitive region 526 on interactive skin to be replaced byfunction buttons associated with the selected application.Alternatively, selecting a camera application button on programmingdisplay 590 of control circuitry 480 may do the same.

Illuminated touch-sensitive region 522 may display a list associatedwith a media player software application on interactive skin 20. In oneexample, illuminated touch-sensitive region 522 may display a scrollablelist of song titles. Swiping edge region 524, or other region, ofinteractive skin in one direction may cause the illuminatedtouch-sensitive region 522 of interactive skin 20 to display songtitles. Swiping edge region 524 or other region, of interactive skin 20in a different direction may cause interactive skin 20 to display adifferent list associated with the same software application. Forexample, artist lists, album lists, and playlist lists. As furtherexamples, video lists, genre lists, webcast lists, audio book lists, andso on.

In one embodiment, interactive skin 20 may be received in a recessdefined inside the panel of the wearable. The interactive skin may behermetically sealed by a transparent layer. The interactive skin may beconfigured to be environmentally friendly. The transparent layer mayextend across the recess or illustratively across the entire panel. Aspreviously explained, an opening may be provided for an audio or otheroutput. The opening may be overlaid with output functionality friendlymaterial. For example, for an audio output, the material may be of thekind used for outdoor speaker to keep water from ruining speakers.

The interactive skin of this disclosure may be assembled usingconventional processes. For example, where interactive skin isconfigured using flex technology, the assembly may be in accordance withconventional flex technology processing. The interactive skins may beintegrated into the external panel of the wearable in the form factor ofhandbag 10 by overlay or receipt within a portion of the external panelof the wearable in the form factor of handbag during the assembly of theexternal panel of the wearable in the form factor of handbag 10 and theassembly of that portion to the handbag.

FIG. 5 depicts an illustrative handbag 100 with which an interactiveskin of this disclosure may be used. FIG. 5A shows wearable 100including a front panel 112, a back panel 114, and a pair of handles orstraps on front panel 112 with portions 116, 118 having terminating ends117, 119 that may be attached to the front panel of the handbag. A pairof handles or straps on back panel 114 with portions 106, 108 haveterminating ends 107, 109 that may be attached to the back panel 114 ofthe handbag 100. An interactive skin 120 extends across front panel 112,bottom panel 113, and back panel 114 in this illustrative example. FIG.5B depicts the wearable 100 of FIG. 5A in an assembled state.

The interactive skin of this disclosure has many uses. FIG. 6 depicts auser interacting with the interactive skin adapted to the external panelof a wearable in the form factor of handbag 10. In FIG. 6A the user isemploying the interactive skin in a wearable for infotainment andconnectivity purposes. In FIG. 6B a user has employed the interactiveskin in his wearable for information broadcast purposes. In the figure,the illustrative skin is configured to broadcast advertisement, apresentation, an image, a video stream and other information. Theinteractive skins may be configured to display one or more colors,texts, designs, pictures, videos, or to broadcast one or more sounds,music, or a combination of one or more of these or other input outputfunctionalities.

One or more interactive skins may be used to configure the appearance ofthe wearable. For example, a predetermined number of interactive skinsmay be programmed to have a predetermined color on one day and adifferent predetermined color on another day. Thus, the wearable mayappear red on one day and blue on a different day. This allows the userof the wearable to customize his or her wearable to a mood, occasion,for fun, or for other reasons. A handbag may be programmed with a coloror scheme of colors to reflect a user's mood or message of the day.Thus, this disclosure may allow a wearable to be configured to expressthe emotive of a user.

As another example, a predetermined number of interactive skins may beprogrammed to have a color scheme to present a theme. For example, theinteractive skins may be programmed to have one or more interactiveskins each display the American flag in which case the wearable maydisplay one or a plurality of American flags. In another embodiment, twoor more or a cluster of the interactive skins may each display adifferent portion of the American flag such that when displayedcollectively, the interactive skins depict an overall appearance of oneAmerican flag. Any one or more interactive skins may be configured todisplay the foregoing or any color scheme, words or messages, audiblesounds, music generation, audio, video and so on. In addition any one ormore interactive skins may be programmed to vary its display over timeto another color scheme, words or messages, audible sounds, musicgeneration, audio, video and so on. Any one or more interactive skin maybe programmed to dynamically vary its display based on conditions suchas time, night or day, heat, sunny or cloudy day. For example, one ormore interactive skin may be configured to display the color red duringthe day and the color white at night; the white color being more visiblein the night time and so may be more safe. One or more interactive skinsmay be configured to display the color blue on a sunny day and yellow ona cloudy day to mirror the mood of the user.

Any one or more interactive skin may be programmed to vary the input andoutput functions that may be possible with the interactive skin of thisdisclosure at different times. For example, when the wearable is setdown, one or more interactive skin may be configured to activate sensorsassociated with the interactive skin to provide a security system forthe wearable against theft. The sensors may detect a motion such as theopening of wearable or removal of an item that may alert a person totheft.

The interactive skin of this disclosure may be configured to be passwordprotected so that only the user or those who have been provided thepassword may activate the touch feature of the interactive skin of thisdisclosure. In this way, the interactive skin is only touch responsiveto someone who knows the password for interacting with the interactiveskin. For instance, a touch may cause the interactive skin to display akeyboard for entry by a user of the password. On proper entry of thepassword, the interactive skin may allow further interaction by the userwith the interactive skin.

Some functionality of the interactive skin of this disclosure has beenpreviously described by illustrative examples which is not limiting.Other applications of the interactive skin of this disclosure are alsocovered by this disclosure. By way of further example, FIG. 7 depicts aset of functions that may be provided to the interactive skin of thisdisclosure. This functionality includes an audio plug receptacle 1110, aconnector receptacle 2000, one or more user input components 1120, oneor more output components 1160, control circuitry 1130, graphicscircuitry 1170, a bus 1115, a memory 1140, a storage device 1180,communications circuitry 1150 and POM (position, orientation or movementsensor) or other sensors 1190.

Control circuitry 1130 has been previously explained and may bededicated to an interactive skin of this disclosure or to a plurality ofinteractive skins of this disclosure. The control circuitry may be thecontrol circuitry that controls a vehicle system. The control circuitrymay be a control circuitry associated with a smart phone or otherwireless device. The control circuitry may be a control circuitryassociated with a computer device. Other control circuitry may beuseable with the interactive skin of this disclosure.

Memory 1140 has been previously described and may reside in proximity orremoved from the interactive skin of this disclosure. Input componentand output component may provide a user with enhanced ability tointeract with wearable. For example, input component 1120 and outputcomponent 1160 may provide an interface for a user to interact with anapplication running on control circuitry. Input component may take avariety of forms, such as a keyboard/keypad, trackpad, mouse, clickwheel, button, stylus or touch screen. Input component may also includeone or more devices for user authentication (e.g., smart card reader,fingerprint reader or iris scanner) as well as an audio input device(e.g., a microphone) or a video input device (e.g., a camera or a webcam) for recording video or still frames. Output components may includeany suitable display, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a touchscreen display, a projection device, a speaker or any other suitablesystem for presenting information or media to a user. Output component1160 may be controlled by graphics circuitry. Graphics circuitry 1170may include a video card, such as a video card with 2D, 3D or vectorgraphics capabilities. In some embodiments, output component may alsoinclude an audio component that is remotely coupled to wearable. Forexample, output component may include a headset, headphones or ear buds.These may be coupled to wearable with a wire or wirelessly, such as byBluetooth headphones or a Bluetooth headset, or optically.

There may be one or more applications such as software applicationsstored on storage device or in memory. Control circuitry may beconfigured to execute instructions of the applications from memory. Forexample, control circuitry may be configured to execute a media playerapplication that causes full-motion video or audio to be presented ordisplayed on interactive skin or an output component. Other applicationsmay illustratively include a telephony application, a GPS navigatorapplication, a web browser application, a calendar or organizerapplication. Interactive skin may also execute any suitable operatingsystem, such as a Mac OS, Apple iOS, Linux or Windows. The system mayinclude a set of applications stored on storage device or memory that iscompatible with the particular operating system.

In some embodiments, the interactive skin of this disclosure is providedwith or coupled to communications circuitry to connect to one or morecommunications networks. Communications circuitry 1150 may be anysuitable communications circuitry operative to connect to acommunications network and to transmit communications (e.g., voice ordata) from interactive skin or wearable coupled to interactive skin toother devices within the communications network. Communicationscircuitry may be operative to interface with the communications network.The communications circuitry may do so using any suitable communicationsprotocol such as, Wi-Fi (such as, a 802.11 protocol), Bluetooth, highfrequency systems (such as, 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.6 GHz communicationsystems), infrared, GSM, GSM plus EDGE, CDMA, quad band and othercellular protocols, VOIP or any other suitable protocol.

Communications circuitry may be operative to create a communicationsnetwork using any suitable communications protocol. Communicationscircuitry may create a short-range communications network to connect toother devices using a short-range communications protocol. For instance,communications circuitry may be operative to create a localcommunications network using the Bluetooth protocol to couple to aBluetooth headset or other Bluetooth device. Communications circuitrymay include a wired or wireless network interface card (NIC) configuredto connect to the Internet or any other public or private network. Forinstance, interactive skin may be configured to connect to the Internetvia a wireless network. The network may be packet radio network, an RFnetwork, a cellular network or any other suitable type of network.Communication circuitry may initiate and conduct communications withother communications devices or media devices within a communicationsnetwork.

The interactive skin of this disclosure may be provided with or coupledto other components suitable for performing a communications operation.For instance, the interactive skin may include or have associated withit a power supply. The power supply may be a battery, a lithium battery,a solar battery, and so on. The power supply may be provided by othersources, such as supplied by a computing device, such as a smartphone,associated with the interactive skin.

As other examples, the interactive skin may include or have associatedwith it an antenna, ports or interfaces for coupling to a host device, asecondary input mechanism such as an ON/OFF switch or any other suitablecomponent.

The interactive skin of this disclosure may be provided with or coupledto POM or other sensors. These sensors may be used to determine theapproximate geographical or physical location of interactive skin. Thismay allow the location of an interactive skin or its associated wearableor other wearables in communication therewith to be derived from anysuitable trilateration or triangulation technique. In this illustrativeexample, POM sensors may include an RF triangulation detector or sensoror any other location circuitry configured to determine the location ofinteractive skin and/or its associated wearables.

POM sensors 1190 provided with or coupled to interactive skin may alsoinclude one or more sensors or circuitry for detecting the positionorientation or movement of interactive skin or a wearable or wearablesassociated with interactive skin. Such sensors and circuitry mayillustratively include single-axis or multi-axis accelerometers, angularrate or inertial sensors (such as, optical gyroscopes, vibratinggyroscopes, gas rate gyroscopes or ring gyroscopes), magnetometers (suchas, scalar or vector magnetometers), ambient light sensors, proximitysensors, motion sensor (such as, a passive infrared (PIR) sensor, activeultrasonic sensor or active microwave sensor) and linear velocitysensors. For instance, control circuitry may be configured to read datafrom one or more of POM sensors in order to determine the locationorientation or velocity of an interactive skin or wearable or wearablesassociated therewith. One or more of POM sensors may be positionedabove, below or on either side of the display presented by theinteractive skin of this disclosure. The sensor may also be positionednear an output component such as a speaker.

Other sensors may also be provided such as explained below.

Control circuit 1130 may be powered by a power source of the wearable.The power source may be a battery, such as a lithium battery, a solarpanel, etc. In an embodiment wherein the control circuitry is providedby a computing device such as a smart phone, mobile computing or othercomputing device, the power source of the device may power the controlcircuitry. The interactive skin of this disclosure may be provided withits own dedicated power source sized to meet the power requirementsdemanded by the functionality provided by the interactive skin.

Software may be used to manage power consumption by the interactiveskin. For example, power to the interactive skin may be throttled basedon power source requirements. For instance, when available power fallsbelow predetermined levels, power to the interactive skin may be turnedentirely off or functionality provided by the interactive skin may bethrottled back.

The interactive skin may be provided with varying combinations of theforegoing electronic components. For example, an interactive skin may beprovided with a GPS sensor and a controller and communication circuitryto allow the whereabouts of the interactive skin or wearable associatedtherewith to be tracked. This may allow people who are kidnapped to betracked and found or wearables to be recovered such as that are stolen.As another example, an interactive display may include an audio jack.Any combination of components to configure the interactive skin with thedesired smarts may be used to achieve the desired functionality.

Additionally, the wearable may include other electronic functionality,such as a loudspeaker 1194 or microphone 1192 to enable a user tointeract with the interactive skin in this way.

FIG. 8 shows aspects of an illustrative footwear configured as or withan interactive skin in accordance with an embodiment of the presentdisclosure. FIGS. 8A-8C depict illustrative woman's heel footwear. FIG.8D depicts an illustrative sneaker footwear and FIG. 8E anotherillustrative footwear.

FIGS. 8A-8E illustrative wearable 810 in the form factor of woman heelfootwear include a sole 840 (shown in FIG. 8D), a lining piece 830, atop front piece 814, a back piece 817, and a heel 890. As shown in FIG.8A, an interactive skin 820 may overlay or be received within or form anintegrated part of a portion of the top front piece 814 of the wearablein the form factor of woman heel. In illustrative embodiment depicted inFIG. 8B, interactive skin 817 may overlay or be received within or forman integrated part of substantially all or all of the wearable in theform factor of woman heel.

In illustrative embodiment depicted in FIG. 8C, interactive skin 820 amay overlay or be received within or form an integrated part of part ofor substantially all or all of the sole 840 or side of the sole of thewearable in the form factor of woman heel. FIG. 8C also depictsinteractive skin 820 b may overlay or be received within or form anintegrated part of part of or substantially all or all of the lining 830of the wearable in the form factor of woman heel. FIG. 8C also depictsinteractive skin 820 c may overlay or be received within or form anintegrated part of part of or substantially all or all of the top frontpiece of the wearable in the form factor of woman heel.

The interactive skins 820 a, 820 b, and 82 c may be configured asdepicted in FIG. 3 . Because interactive skin 820 b may absorb asignificant amount of loading from the wearer of the heel, to preventharm to the flexible display layer 22 and touch sensitive layer 24 fromsuch loading, the interactive skin may be provided with a loadminimizing structure configured to prevent loading of the user frombreaking or interfering with the operation of the flexible display layer22 and touch sensitive layer 24 while allowing all, or substantiallyall, or a portion of light containing information displayed oninteractive skin to pass through. In one illustrative embodiment,ribbings 831 a, 831 b through 831 n (ribbings in between 831 b and 831 nare not depicted in the illustrative drawing) are provided and atransparent lining not shown may be extended above and along theribbings. The transparent lining may illustratively be affixed to theribbing by an adhesive. The ribbings may protect the flexible displaylayer 22 and touch sensitive layer 24 from damage from user loading bydistributing the loading across the ribbings and to the sole. Thetransparent lining may cushion the foot. Light from the interactive skinmay pass through the transparent lining along sides, front and back ofthe foot as well as through the toes to the wearer or observer. In oneillustrative embodiment, the ribbings are illustratively made fromtransparent material so as to allow more of the light from theinteractive skin to pass through.

The foregoing teachings on ribbings and other load distributionstructures may apply to the use of an interactive skin in a portion of awearable that bears a load that may affect the performance of theinteractive skin. For instance, as explained in FIG. 2C, interactiveskin may also be provided on the pair of handles 19 a and 19 b of awearable in the form factor of a handbag. In such case where the loadingcreated by holding the handles comes into play, the holding loading maybe distributed down to the panels through the use of ribbings as justexplained.

Interactive skin 820 b depicted in FIG. 8C and interactive skin 20 ofwearable 10 in the form factor of handbag depicted in FIG. 2C, as wellas any interactive skin of this disclosure may illustratively beprogrammed according to this disclosure. For instance, the interactiveskin may be programmed to render a color, a color scheme, have soundprojected from outputs associated with the interactive skin. In anillustrative embodiment, interactive skin 20 of wearable 10 in the formfactor of handbag depicted in FIG. 2C, may be configured to emit a whitelight, which may shine from the bottom of the handbag, filter throughthe components contained in the handbag, and be seen by a user orobserver at the top of the handbag. The white light may illuminate thecontents inside the handbag to allow a user to easier find things insidethe bag. Another color, or pattern of color, or sounds, or theme, orimages or texts or other outputs from the interactive skin or componentsassociated therewith may be generated. For instance, the light maystrobe the white light, or change the lighting from red to white to blueor play a song on opening of the handbag. The interactive skin may beconfigured with any output function taught by this disclosure.

In illustrative embodiment depicted in FIG. 8D, interactive skin 820 amay overlay or be received within or form an integrated part of part ofor substantially all or all of the back piece 817 and side piece 822 ofthe wearable in the form factor of woman heel. FIG. 8D further depictsinteractive skin 820 b may overlay or be received within or form anintegrated part of part of or substantially all or all of the heel 890of the wearable in the form factor of woman heel.

The interactive skin of this disclosure may overlay or be receivedwithin or form an integrated part of part of or substantially all or allof any piece of the wearable in the form factor of woman heel. Theinteractive skin 820 may be bent to contour the piece of the wearable.Alternatively, interactive skin 820 may be configured to provide thepanel of the wearable with a predetermined contour.

FIG. 8C further depicts wearable including a controller 880 integratedinto the wearable. A control line 882 is depicted to illustrate acontrol line between the controller 880 and any one or more interactiveskin, in this case interactive skin 820 c, over which communication mayoccur between controller and interactive skin. Control lines from thecontroller 880 may run to other interactive skin that is part of thewearable.

FIG. 8D depicts an illustrative embodiment wherein controller 880 may beintegrated into heel 890 of the wearable. Alternatively, the controlleror other electronics associated with the wearable may be integrated intoportions 881, 883 of any other portions of the heel or wearable.

FIG. 8E depicts an illustrative sneaker footwear including a sideportion 822 and a front portion 814. An interactive skin 820 a of thisdisclosure may overlay or be received within or form an integrated partof the front portion 814 of the wearable in the form factor of womanheel. An interactive skin 820 b of this disclosure may overlay or bereceived within or form an integrated part of the side portion 822 ofthe wearable in the form factor of woman heel. In another illustrativeembodiment, interactive skin 820 a and interactive skin 820 b mayconfigured as a single interactive skin that extends below the sideportion 822 of the wearable along area 811. Alternatively theinteractive skin may extend along the side portion 822 and includeinactive areas such as the area of the interactive skin extending alongarea 811. Similarly, the back portion 817 may include an interactiveskin and be active or inactive along the back portion or extend belowthe back portion 817. The interactive skin of this disclosure may beconfigured to not cover the back portion 817 or other portions of thewearable. A single interactive skin may circumnavigate the differentportions of the wearable and be active, inactive, or extend below aportion at any point. For example, the inside portion of the sneakerdepicted in FIG. 8E may have an interactive skin of its own or be partof a single interactive skin that extends across both sides of thewearable.

FIG. 8F depicts an illustrative wearable 810 in the form factor of apair of footwear. The pair includes a front portion 814 a, 814 b, a sideportion 822 a, 822 b, a back portion 823 a, 823 b, an opening 824 a, 824b for receiving the pair of feet, and an interactive skin 820 a, 820 baccording to the teachings of this disclosure. Interactive skin 820 b isdepicted folded over onto front portion 814 b of one footwear. In theother footwear, interactive skin 820 a is depicted folded back and awayfrom front portion 814 a of the footwear. An underside of theinteractive skin 820 a, 820 b may be provided with an attachmentmechanism, illustratively Velcro, which is shown as attachment mechanism892 a on the underside of interactive skin 820 a. The attachmentmechanism 892 a may be configured to attach to attachment mechanism 892b on the front portion 814 b of the footwear.

When a wearer has put on the footwear, or when the footwear has beentaken off and put away, interactive skin 820 b overlays a top portion891 b and front portion 814 b of the footwear. To put on the footwear inthis illustrative embodiment, the interactive skin 820 a is first foldedback and then the front portion 891 a of the footwear is also foldedback. This increases the opening 824 a to allow a foot to slip into thefootwear. The opening 824 a is increased by the additional openingcreated by the opening along edge 803 of the footwear which allows moreopening for the foot to slip into the footwear. Once the foot isinserted into the footwear, the fold in the top portion 891 b isunfolded so that the top portion 891 b and the front portion 814 a liesacross the opening along edge 803. The fold in the interactive skin 820a is then unfolded so that it lies across the top portion 891 b andfront portion of the footwear. The attachment mechanism 820 a may thenattach with the attachment mechanism 892 b on the front portion 814 a ofthe footwear to keep the interactive skin and the top portion 891 b andfront portion 814 a together.

The interactive skin of this disclosure may take any shape. Theinteractive skin may be flexible and bend and take the contour of awearable it is associated with. The interactive skin may form thewearable such as explained in FIG. 2C.

FIG. 9A-FIG. 9F show aspects of an illustrative apparel in the formfactor of a coat or a jacket configured as or with an interactive skinin accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9A depicts a wearable 910 in the form factor of a parka with hood901. FIG. 9A depicts wearable 910 including an interactive skin 920 aand an interactive skin 920 b along front portions of the wearable. FIG.9B depicts a wearable 910 in the form factor of a coat with collar 902.FIG. 9B depicts wearable 910 including an interactive skin 920 along aback portion of the wearable. When used the interactive display maydisplay information or messages. For example, to broadcastadvertisement, a presentation, an image, a video stream and otherinformation. The interactive skins may be configured to display one ormore colors, texts, designs, pictures, videos, or to broadcast one ormore sounds, music, or a combination of one or more of these or otherinput output functionalities. When not used, the coat may be draped overthe back of a chair and the interactive skin may be used by anyone forinteraction with the interactive skin, such as to browse the Internet.

FIG. 9C depicts wearable 910 in the form factor of a jacket with lapels903. FIG. 9C depicts wearable 910 including an interactive skin 920along sleeve of the wearable. In FIG. 9C, the interactive skin may liealong an inner side of the interactive sleeve. Alternatively, theinteractive skin may lie along an outer side of the interactive skin.The interactive skin may lie along any portion of the wearable. One ormore interactive skins may be used in these illustrative embodiments andin any of the wearables as disclosed by this disclosure.

FIG. 9D depicts wearable 910 including an interactive skin 920 along aninside sleeve of the wearable and a controller 980 for controlling theinteractive skin. FIG. 9E depicts wearable 910 including an interactiveskin 920 along an inside sleeve of the wearable and a wire thatelectrically connects interactive skin to a controller 999 in the formfactor of a smart phone for controlling the interactive skin. With thedisplay provided by the interactive skin on the sleeve, the interactiveskin enables a user to “wear his smartphone on his sleeve. FIG. 9Fdepicts wearable 910 including an interactive skin 920 along an insidesleeve of the wearable provided with wireless communication circuitry981 to wirelessly communicate with a controller 980 in the form factorof a smart phone for controlling the interactive skin.

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B show aspects of an illustrative apparel in theform factor of a dress configured as or with an interactive skin inaccordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10Adepicts wearable 1010 including an interactive skin 1020 along a collarof the wearable. FIG. 10B depicts wearable 1010 including an interactiveskin 1020 along a bottom portion of the wearable.

As explained in this disclosure, the interactive skin may take any shapeand form and may overlay or be received within or form an integratedpart of substantially all or all of an outside portion of the wearable.For instance,

FIG. 11A and FIG. 11B show aspects of an illustrative accessory in theform factor of a dress in the form factor of a name tag and necklaceconfigured as or with an interactive skin in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10A depicts wearable 1110 inthe form factor of a nametag accessory including an interactive skin1020. FIG. 10B depicts wearable 1010 including in the form factor of anecklace including an interactive skin 1120.

FIG. 12 show aspects of an illustrative handbag for carrying anelectronic component, in this example illustratively a casing forcarrying a smartphone, the casing configured as or with an interactiveskin in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 depicts illustrative wearable 1210 in the form factor of a smartphone casing together with an illustrative electronic device, a smartphone 1211. Smart phone 1211 includes a housing 1213 with internalelectronics (not shown), a display 1212, and a control button 1214. TheFIG. 12 depiction of the illustrative wearable 1210 in the form factorof a smart phone casing is illustrative and a wearable in the formfactor of a casing for any mobile electronic is taught by thisdisclosure.

The wearable 1210 includes a frame 1220 having an opening for receivingsmart phone 1211. The frame may include an electrical connector 1230configured to electrically connect to port 1216 in smart phone 1211 whenthe smartphone is fitted into the wearable in the form factor of a smartphone casing. The electrical connector 1230 may be a computer bus andpower connector such as Lightning created by Apple configured to providepower and control interactive skin of this disclosure according to thisdisclosure. The electrical connector interfaces to the previouslyexplained control lines of the interactive skin to enable the processorof the smartphone to control the interactive skin.

FIG. 12A depicts the smartphone 1211 and the wearable 1210 in the formfactor of a smart phone casing for carrying the smartphone facingupright and in a spaced apart relationship. FIG. 12B depicts thesmartphone 1211 partially slipped into the wearable 1210 in the formfactor of a smart phone casing for carrying the smartphone. FIG. 12Cdepicts the smartphone 1211 fully slipped into the wearable 1210 in theform factor of a smart phone casing for carrying the smartphone. FIG.12D depicts a back view of FIG. 12C to illustrate a back view ofwearable 1210 in the form factor of a smart phone casing for carryingthe smartphone into which smartphone 1211 has been fully slipped. Asdepicted in FIG. 12D, the back and side of the casing 1210 includesinteractive skin 1220 a and 1220 b, respectively which may include atouch sensitive display as disclosed herein. Interactive skin 1220 afurther includes a virtual control button 1214 a which may function inthe same way as control button 1214 of smartphone 1211 depicted in FIG.12A.

As previously explained, when inserting the smartphone into the wearable1210 in the form factor of a smart phone casing, the electricalconnector 1230 of the wearable is plugged into the port 1216 of smartphone 1211. When the two are interconnected, the processor of thesmartphone may power and electrically communicate with the interactiveskin. This may allow the processor of the smartphone to control theinteractive skin, such as the active and inactive regions of the skinthat may render a display in accordance with the teaching of thisdisclosure. In FIG. 12D depicts an interactive skin 1220 a along a backside of the wearable 1210 in the form factor of a smart phone casing andan interactive skin 1220 b along a side of the wearable 1210 in the formfactor of a smart phone casing. As explained in this disclosureinteractive skin may overlay or be received within or form an integratedpart of part of or substantially all or all of the wearable 1210 in theform factor of a smart phone casing.

In this way, wearable 1210 in the form factor of a smart phone casingmay provide the features explained in this disclosure that may beprovided by an interactive skin in accordance with this disclosure. Thisincludes rendering a display on the interactive skin while at the sametime protecting the smartphone from scratches and absorbing any impactof the smart phone against a surface. The wearable in the form factor ofa smart phone case with interactive skin may be configured to be handheld, worn as a necklace, configured as wallet, and so on.

Cases for smart phones serve many purposes. These may include protectingthe smart phone from impact. Cases for smartphones may also be used tochange the appearance of the smart phone. For instance, a traditionalblack colored smart phone may be provided with a case of a differentcolor, such as pink, or orange, or blue. A smartphone having atraditional shape, such as the shape of a brick, may be provided with acase having a shell for receiving the smart phone but a form factor thatmay create a different shape or appearance, such as a case in the shapeof a wristlet or having a bunny shape. Cases in these instances receivethe smart phone in a way that may protect or alter the appearance of thephone while allowing the display of the smartphone to be visible throughthe opening of the case.

This disclosure allows the back side and sides including top and bottomsides of an electronic device such as a smart phone to be interactivewith the user. As depicted in FIG. 12D, the wearable in the form factorof a case with interactive skin of this disclosure may allow the backside of the electronic device such as smart phone to be also touchresponsive to the user and to provide inputs and outputs as disclosedherein. It also always touches responsive inputs and outputs on bothfront and back and top and bottom and sides of the electronic devicesmart phone. This allows a user to provide touch input and receiveoutput from the front and back and top and bottom and sides of theelectronic device such as smart phone. It also allows more than one userto use the electronic device such as a smart phone at the same time asexplained below.

Moving touch inputs and outputs off the display of the electronic deviceto the back or side of the wearable with interactive skin of thisdisclosure may provide ergonomic advantages and efficiencies inoperation. For instance, an electronic device in the form factor of asmart phone may typically be held in one hand so that the other hand ofthe user may be free to interact with the smart phone by touch entry.Sometimes a user may hold the phone against the fingers of both handsand use the thumbs for touch interaction with the smart phone. In thewearable in the form factor of a casing with interactive skin of thisdisclosure, an interactive skin on the back side of the casing allowsthe fingers against which the back of the smart phone with wearable ofthis disclosure is placed to be used to touch the interactive skin onthe back side of the casing for user interaction with the phone. In oneillustrative embodiment, the sides of a smart phone are held firmly bythe thumbs of the user and the fingers of the user may all be availablefor touch interaction with the interactive skin on the back side of thecasing. This disclosure may free up the use of more fingers for touchinteraction with the smart phone and may do so in a way that may beeasier on the fingers and hands of the user so as to make it moreergonomically friendly.

The wearable 1210 in the form factor of a smart phone casing of thisdisclosure may be configured to provide the interactive skin 1220 a,1220 b of this disclosure. Having interactive skin 1220 a on the backside of wearable 1210 in the form factor of a smart phone casing 1220may allow for a greater variety of user inputs to the smart phone. Forinstance, virtual control buttons on the interactive skin on the backside of the smart phone may provide control buttons additional tocontrol buttons that are provided on the front side of the smart phone.This may increase the number of control buttons available to a user toprovide input. In another illustrative embodiment, some or many or allof the virtual or real control buttons provided on the smart phone maybe replaced by counterpart virtual or real control buttons provided onthe back side of the smart phone in connection with the interactiveskin.

For example, in one illustrative embodiment, virtual control button 1214a on the interactive skin on the back side of the smart phone mayreplace control button 1214 on the smart phone. Alternatively, virtualcontrol button 1214 a on the interactive skin on the back side of thesmart phone may be a real control button, which may replace the controlprovided by control button 1214 on the smart phone.

In an illustrative embodiment where virtual control button 1214 a or areal control button both on the interactive skin on the back side of thesmart phone replace control button 1214 on the smart phone, thereplacement may eliminate the need for control button 1214 on the smartphone. The absence of control button 1214 on the smart phone may free upthe real estate occupied by the control button 1214 for other purposessuch as extending display 1212 over that freed up real estate, therebyincreasing the display area available to a user.

FIG. 12E shows aspects of an illustrative handbag for carrying anelectronic device in this example illustratively a casing 1220 for aniPad 1211 a and a casing 1220 for a computing device 1212 b, the casingconfigured as or with an interactive skin in accordance with anembodiment of the present disclosure. The iPad 1211 a is depicted insidewearable 1220 in the form factor of a casing in both a state in whichthe iPad inside wearable in the form factor of a casing is disassembled1202 a from a stand 1290 a and in a state in which the iPad insidewearable in the form factor of a casing is assembled 1290 b to stand1290 d. iPad inside wearable in the form factor of a casing may beassembled 1290 b to stand 1290 d by placement of a handle 1280configured along and extending downwardly from a bottom side of thewearable 1220 in the form factor of a case into an opening 1292 alocated along a top side of the stand 1290 a as depicted in thedisassembled 1202 a state of the pieces. In the assembled 1202 b stateof the pieces, the handle 1280 may be received and held by the opening1292 a so as to support the wearable in the form factor of a casing inan upright position such that a bottom side of the wearable in the formfactor of a casing holding the iPad sits firmly against the top side ofthe stand 1290 a. The handle 1280 may further include a power and databus such as Lightning created by Apple configured to provide power andcontrol from the computing electronics to the interactive skin of thisdisclosure according to this disclosure.

In the disassembled 1202 a state, the wearable in the form factor of acasing is oriented to show the display 1212 a of the smart phone. In theassembled 1202 b state, the wearable in the form factor of a casing isoriented to show the back side of the wearable. In the illustrateembodiment depicted in the assembled 1202 b state, the back side of thewearable includes an interactive skin 1220 a of this disclosure whichmay operate in accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.

The wearable in the form factor of a casing 1220 for the computingdevice 1212 b is depicted in an assembled 1203 state. The wearable herehas a handle (not shown) like the handle 1280 in the assembled 1202 astate of the iPad configured along and extending downwardly from abottom side of the wearable 1220 in the form factor of a case. The stand1290 c has an opening (not shown) like the opening 1292 a located alonga top side of the stand 1290 a as depicted in the disassembled 1202 astate of the pieces including the iPad. In the assembled 1203 state ofthe pieces, the handle may be received and held by the opening so as tosupport the wearable in the form factor of a casing in an uprightposition such that a bottom side of the wearable in the form factor of acasing holding the computing device sits firmly against the top side ofthe stand 1290 a.

In the assembled 1203 state, the wearable in the form factor of a casingis oriented to show the display 1212 b of the computing device. The backside of the wearable includes an interactive skin of this disclosure andincluding an interactive skin like interactive 1220 a depicted in theassembled state of the iPad to stand 1290 b. As seen in the assembledstate 1203 of the computing device to stand, the interactive skin on aback side of the casing holding the computing device may be used by oneperson 1270 a and the display 1212 b on the computing device may be usedby another person 1270 b in an illustrative example.

Assembled state 1202 b depicts an iPad assemble and assembled state 1203depicts a computing device assembly. In another embodiment, the assemblymay be a smart phone or other computing device. The wearable for thesmart phone or other computing device may be provided with a hand and astand for holding the wearable in the form factor of a casing with smartphone in order to allow the smart phone or other computing device to beused by people on both sides of the smart phone or computing device.

In one illustrative embodiment both the display on the interactive skinand the display on the computing device may include a virtual controlbutton 1214 a (FIG. 12D) or real button or both in order that users onboth sides of the computing device may have control buttons forcontrolling their display. Any number of real or virtual control buttonsmay be used on either display.

In another illustrative embodiment, the interactive skin extends along aside or top or bottom of the wearable in the form factor of the casingin order to enable touch control and display along these sides.

The interactive skin in the form factor of a case for an electronicdevice may overlay or be received within or form an integrated part ofpart of or substantially all or all of the wearable in the form factorof a case. The interactive skin in the form factor of a case for anelectronic device always touch responsive inputs and outputs on bothfront and back and top and bottom and sides of the electronic devicesmart phone. This allows a user to provide touch input and receiveoutput from the front and back and top and bottom and sides of theelectronic device such as smart phone. It also allows more than one userto use the electronic device such as a smart phone at the same time asabove.

In an illustrative embodiment, more than one interactive skin may beused with the wearable in the form factor of a casing. For instance, aninteractive skin may extend along a back side of the casing and anotherinteractive skin may extend along a side of the wearable in the formfactor of a casing. In another illustrative example, an interactive skinalong back side of the casing and an interactive skin along side of thewearable in the form factor of a casing may be one interactive skin.Sections of the interactive skin may be configured to be active andothers inactive according to this disclosure such as by electricaldeactivation of regions, masking, and running sections of theinteractive skin into and within the wearable in the form factor of acasing.

In an illustrative embodiment, the display on the electronic device andthe interactive skin of this disclosure may be active at the same time.For instance the display on the electronic device and a display on theinteractive skin may be contemporaneously active. In this mode ofoperation, a user may touch interact with the electronic device such assmart phone on both the display of the electronic device and the touchinteractive skin of this disclosure. In an illustrative embodiment, thedisplay on the electronic device and the display rendered on theinteractive skin of this disclosure may be active at different times.For instance, in one mode of operation the display of the electronicdevice such as smart phone may be active. In another mode of operation,the interactive skin of the electronic device such as smart phone may beactive.

In an illustrative embodiment, such as assembled state 1203 of thewearable 1220 in the form factor of a casing for an electronic devicedepicted in FIG. 12E, the electronic device may be a computing devicewith large screen. The computing electronics may reside within orwithout the electronic device. For instance, the computing electronicsmay reside inside the housing for the display 1212 b.

Alternatively, the computing electronics such as the processor mayreside in the stand 1290C and the handle 1280 may further include apower and data bus such as Lightning created by Apple configured toprovide power and control not only from the computing electronics in thestand to the interactive skin of this disclosure according to thisdisclosure but also to the display 1212 b of the electronic device. Theopening 1292 a may include an electrical socket configured for adaptingthe power and data from the bus provided by handle 1280 to a bus in thestand for use by a processor in the stand to control the interactiveskin of this disclosure and display 1212 b. The electrical connector mayinterface to the previously explained control lines of the interactiveskin to enable the processor in the stand to control the interactiveskin as previously explained. The electrical connector may alsointerface to the control lines of circuitry controlling display 1212 bto enable the processor in the stand to control the interactive skin.The handle 1280 may be received and held by the opening 1292 a so as tosupport the wearable in the form factor of a casing in an uprightposition such that a bottom side of the wearable in the form factor of acasing holding the electronic device sits firmly against the top side ofthe stand 1290 a.

In an illustrative embodiment, such as assembled state 1203 of thewearable 1220 in the form factor of a casing for an electronic devicedepicted in FIG. 12E, the electronic device may be a computing devicewith large screen with or without the computing electronics aspreviously explained.

Where the wearable in the form factor of a casing is fitted to a displayscreen such as a monitor for connection to computing electronics aspreviously explained in the illustrative example or in other examples inwhich the display screen may be activated with computing electronics,the electronic device received by the wearable may be a device with anyelectronic components whether or not it includes the computingelectronics. In an illustrative embodiment, such device with wearable ofthis disclosure may be used in a school, such as a classroom. The devicewith wearable of this disclosure may be placed on a desk with chairs onboth sides of the device with wearable. Students on both sides of thedevice with wearable of this disclosure may interact with the devicewith wearable of this disclosure. For instance, one student may interactwith the display provided by the device with wearable of thisdisclosure. Another student may interact with the interactive skin onthe back side of the display with wearable of this disclosure.

In an illustrative embodiment, such device with wearable of thisdisclosure may be used at a kiosk at a trade show. A booth operator mayinteract with the interactive skin on the back side of the wearablewhile a visitor may interact with the display of the electronic deviceheld by the wearable with interactive skin of this disclosure. In anillustrative embodiment, such device with wearable of this disclosuremay be used at an office, for example a cubicle. An employee mayinteract with the interactive skin on the back side of the wearablewhile another employee may interact with the display of the electronicdevice held by the wearable with interactive skin of this disclosure. Inanother illustrative embodiment, the device with wearable of thisdisclosure may be located in an airplane terminal, a mall, or any publicor private place. The display of the electronic device may be accessedby one person while the interactive skin of this disclosure on awearable containing the electronic device may be accessed by anotherperson. As previously described, the interactions on the display of theelectronic device and the interactive skin, such as a display on theinteractive skin, may be contemporaneous, or not depending upon theprocessor and software design used with the electronic device andwearable with interactive skin of this disclosure.

FIG. 12F depicts an electronic device 1207 having a housing 1253 and adisplay 1252 and a handle 1253 received by an opening 1264 in a stand1208 including a front section 1263 and side and back sections (sidesection 1263 a shown), the handle 1253 further may include a power andbus connection such as Lightning created by Apple configured to providepower and control interactive skin of this disclosure according to thisdisclosure as explained below. Stand 1208 includes panels 1260, 1261,and 1262 extend upwardly from the stand to form three surfaces. Panels1260, 1261 and 1262 may be provided with an interactive skin 1220 a,1220 b, and 1220 c of this disclosure. A layer 1271 may overlay a topsurface of front section 1263 of stand 1208. The layer 1271 may beillustratively formed of material structurally strong enough to supportelectronic device 1207 when seated on top of the layer 1271.

Layer 1271 may include conductive traces 1272 a, 1272 b that may connectwith conductive traces 1272 b, 1724 b which may connect with conductivetraces in interactive skin 1220 b to control interactive skins 1220 a,1220 b, 1220 c. The number of conductive traces may depend upon whetherone or more interactive skins are used. For instance if one interactiveskin is used, a single set of traces may be used to connect withcorresponding conductive traces in the interactive skin. If more thanone interactive skin is used, a set of conductive traces may beconfigured to connect with conductive traces in each interactive skin.

Conductive traces 1272 a, 1272 b electrically connect with the power andcontrol bus configured on handle 1253 when the electronic device 1207 isassembled to the stand 1208. When assembled the electronic device maycontrol the interactive skins 1220 a, 1220 b, 1220 c as previousdescribed. In this illustrative example, the assembly increases theinteractive display area of the electronic device available to a user bythe three interactive surfaces 1220 a, 122 b, 1220 c provided by theinteractive skin of this disclosure. In this illustrative embodiment, asingle electronic device may be interacted with by illustratively fourpeople, one on each side for the four display assembly made possible bythe teachings of this disclosure. The number of surfaces configured withinteractive skin of this disclosure is a matter of design choice. Forinstance, the stand may have four or five or more panels to form a five,six, or more sided display assembly. This may allow more people tointeract with the electronic device contemporaneously or not. In anotherembodiment, the one or more curved panels may be used to introduce oneor more curved surfaces into the interactive surface. In oneillustrative embodiment, the stand forms an entirely curved surface.

The interactive skin of this disclosure increases the surface area of anelectronic device responsive to interaction with a user such as touchinput and the other input and out function described herein. Theincreased surface area responsive to interaction enables a user moreinput and or output or both interactions with the electronic device andenables more than one user to use the same electronic device becausethere is more interactive surface of the electronic device that isaccessible for input and out functions.

As explained herein, the wearable with interactive skin of thisdisclosure may have portions thereof provided by the wearable.Alternatively, the interactive skin may form the wearable itself.

FIG. 13 depicts some illustrative uses of interactive skin in detectinga condition of a wearable accordance with this disclosure. FIG. 13depicts an interactive skin 1320 a on an inside portion 1305 of awearable in the form factor of a handbag 1310 and an interactive skin1320 b also along the inside portion 1305. As explained in thisdisclosure interactive skin may overlay or be received within or form anintegrated part of part of or substantially all or all of the wearable1210 in the form factor of a handbag.

Each of interactive skin 1220 a and 1220 b is configured for detecting acondition of the wearable in the form factor of a handbag. Thetechnology adapted to the interactive skin for detecting the conditionmay be a sensor. For example, one or more interactive skin may beconfigured with a sensor. For example, interactive skin 1320 a may beconfigured with a motion detector sensor which detects motion. A usercan interact with the interactive skin to activate or deactivate themotion detector sensor. For instance, the interactive skin may include atouch sensitive on-off switch configured to put the sensor in an activeor inactive state depending upon switch setting. A user may activate themotion detector sensor when a handbag is put down such as at a table ofa restaurant. If the handbag is taken the motion detector sensor istriggered. An audio alert provided by interactive skin as explained inthis disclosure may alert the user on the occurrence of that condition.

In another example, the previously described handbag may carry a purseadapted with an interactive skin configured with a motion detect sensor.The motion detector of the purse may be configured to detect forcefulmotion such as the motion of a robber quickly removing a purse from ahandbag. In one example, the motion detector sensor of the handbag isinactive and the motion sensor of the purse is active and triggerableupon detection of the forceful motion. In another example, both thehandbag and purse are configured with a motion detector configured todetect forceful motion so that forceful movement of either handbag orpurse will trigger the alert.

As another example, interactive skin 1320 b may be configured with atemperature sensor configured to generate a change in state upondetection of a predetermined temperature. For example, if thetemperature rises above a predetermined temperature, the interactiveskin may generate an alert, thereby indicating to the user that there isan over-heating condition in the handbag. This may be important insituations where the contents of the handbag are heat sensitive, such asmedication, make-up, food and so on. The alert may be an audible alertor cause the color of the interactive skin to change. Illustratively,the change may occur by display of a different color by the interactiveskin on occurrence of such condition. In an alternative example theinteractive skin may be provided with a layer of temperature sensitivematerial that is configured to change color on occurrence of thecondition.

The condition detected by the sensor used in connection with theinteractive skin of this disclosure may be selected from the groupconsisting of temperature, pressure, current, voltage, incorrectelectrical connection, etc. The response of the interactive skin to acondition detected by the sensor may be selected from the groupconsisting of audible alert, visual alert, or combination thereof.Responsive to a detected condition, the interactive skin of thisdisclosure may provide an audible alert or present a display indicatingthe detected condition.

The interactive skin may be configured to be touch sensitive aspreviously described to allow user to interact with the interactiveskin. For instance, on touch the interactive skin may provide thecurrent condition of the wearable with which the interactive skin isassociated, such as current temperature reading by sensor. Further userinteraction may cause the interactive display to display historicalinformation on the wearable or provide other information. The user mayinteract with the interactive display in accordance with the teachingsof this disclosure to learn more about the condition of the wearablewith which the interactive skin is associated or to instruct theinteractive skin to take some action such as change mode operation,change configuration, reset configurations, Responsive to the detectedcondition, the interactive skin may communicate the condition to anelectronic component and thereby provides a notification service. In oneexample, the interactive skin may communicate the condition to a smartphone. The interactive skin may communicate information about thedetected condition such as the existence of the condition, severity ofcondition, time remaining before failure, remedial steps that may betaken, and so on.

While FIG. 13 depicts the interactive skin of this disclosure applied toa wearable in the form factor of a handbag, the interactive skin may beapplied to any wearable. For example, the footwear may be provided withan interactive skin instrumented to detect a condition of the footwearsuch as pressure on the sole of the footwear. In another embodiment, theuser may interact with the interactive skin as disclosed herein. Awearable in the form factor of clothing may be provided with aninteractive skin instrumented to detect a condition of the wearer of theclothing. For example, an interactive skin on a portion of a sportsshirt may be instrumented to detect body temperature such as temperatureduring an activity like sports, hiking, dancing, and so on.

As previously explained, an interactive skin may be associated with oneor more portions of a wearable to provide interaction between theportions and a user.

There is thus described a wearable including an interactive skinconfigured for accepting touch input from a user. The touch input from auser may render a display for user input and output functions.

The interactive skin may include a flexible display layer, a touchsensitive layer, and a transparent display cover layer. Thee flexibledisplay layer may include image pixels. The touch sensitive layer mayinclude at least one capacitive touch electrodes.

The touch sensitive layer may include a plurality of capacitive touchelectrodes configured to detect the location of one or more touches ornear touches on touch sensitive layer. The interactive skin may beconfigured for control by a control circuitry that selectively activatesand inactivates the display pixels.

The user input and output functions may be configured for performing afunction selected from the group consisting of: voice communication;data communication; sending emails; sending text messages; sendingmessages via applications; using GPS; enabling installation of programs;enabling running of programs; enabling calendars; enabling calculator;enabling an interface for data entry; enabling management of digitaldata and contacts; enabling displaying documents in at least one format;enabling word processing, spreadsheets, and document viewing; enablinginternet access; enabling camera functionality; enabling capture ofstill images or video; enabling sending of still images or video;enabling making, editing, and storing videos and photos; enabling mp3player; enabling running of mp3 player; enabling video gameapplications; enabling; enabling near field communication; audioinformation input; audio information output; text information input;text information output; image information input; image informationoutput; video information input; video information output, or acombination thereof.

The interactive skin may include an active portion and an inactiveportion, the active portion providing user input and output functions.The touch input from a user may create at least one virtual userinterface element for controlling user input operations. The virtualuser interface control may be a button.

The interactive skin may be configured to operate in at least one modeof operation. The interactive skin may be configured to also operate inat least a second mode of operation and wherein the user interfaceelement is repurposed for controlling user input operations when theinteractive skin is operating in the second mode of operation. Thefunction of changing between the at least a first mode of operation andthe at least a second operating mode of operation of the interactiveskin may be selected from the group consisting of tapping, sliding,swiping, or other gesture motion of the user touch of the interactiveskin.

The wearable may be selected from the group consisting of clothing,footwear, handbags, and accessories.

A wearable may include an interactive skin configured for detecting acondition of at least one wearable and generating an output function inresponse to the detected condition. The condition may be detected by asensor. The sensor may generate an output upon a condition selected fromthe group consisting of temperature, pressure, current, voltage,incorrect electrical connection, incorrect mechanical connection,mechanical shock, mechanical stress, aging, corrosion, rusting,oxidizing, electrical circuit design. The response to detected conditionmay be selected from the group consisting of audible alert, visualalert, or combination thereof. The response to detected condition may berendering of a display of the detected condition on the interactiveskin. The output function may be a notification service.

The interactive skin may overlay the wearable. The interactive skin maybe recessed into the wearable. The interactive skin may contour theshape of the wearable.

The foregoing is merely illustrative of the principles of this inventionand various modifications can be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Various other components may be included and called upon for providingfor aspects of the teachings herein. For example, additional materials,combinations of materials, and/or omission of materials may be used toprovide for added embodiments that are within the scope of the teachingsherein.

While the invention has been described with reference to illustrativeembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Inaddition, many modifications will be appreciated by those skilled in theart to adapt a particular instrument, situation or material to theteachings of the invention without departing from the essential scopethereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated forcarrying out this invention, but that the invention will include allembodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A casing for an object comprising: a cover overlying and snuglyfitting an object, the cover comprising display pixels, control lines,and an electrical interface, wherein the cover defines a cavity forreceiving an object, the cavity including an insertion opening throughwhich an object can fit; wherein the electrical interface is configuredto be connectable to a processor, the processor controlling the displaypixels over the control lines of the cover.
 2. The casing of claim 1,wherein the object is an electronic device, and the processor is aprocessor in the electronic device.
 3. The casing of claim 1, whereinthe object is a computing device, and the processor is a processor inthe computing device.
 4. The casing of claim 3, wherein the computingdevice is a smart phone.
 5. The casing of claim 1, wherein the processoris a processor in the cover.
 6. The casing of claim 1, wherein theobject is a display device, and the processor is a processor in thedisplay device.
 7. The casing of claim 1, wherein the display pixelsextend along a back side of the cover.
 8. The casing of claim 1, whereinthe display pixels extend along a side of the cover.
 9. The casing ofclaim 7, wherein the display pixels form a display layer.
 10. The casingof claim 9, further comprising a touch sensitive layer, the touchsensitive layer overlaying the display layer, the touch sensitive layerconfigured to detect the location of one or more touches or near toucheson the touch sensitive layer; and wherein the touch input from a userrenders a display on the display pixels for user input and outputfunctions.
 11. The casing of claim 10, wherein the touch sensitivescreen includes a virtual control button.
 12. The casing of claim 2,wherein the interface includes an electrical connector configured toconnect to a port in the electronic device when the electronic device isfitted into the casing.
 13. The casing of claim 3, wherein the interfaceincludes an electrical connector configured to connect to a port in thecomputing device when the computing device is fitted into the casing.14. The casing of claim 1: wherein the cover includes a bottom surface;wherein the bottom surface is provided with an extending member, theextending member configured to fit into an opening of a support member;wherein the opening of the support member supports the casing in anupright position when the extending member of the bottom surface of thecover is placed into the opening of the support member.
 15. The casingof claim 14, wherein the support member is a stand.
 16. The casing ofclaim 15, wherein the processor is a processor in the support member.17. The casing of claim 16, wherein the processor is a processor in thestand.
 18. The casing of claim 10 wherein the user input and outputfunctions are configured for performing a function selected from thegroup consisting of: voice communication; data communication;sending/receiving emails; sending/receiving text messages;sending/receiving messages via applications; input/output use of GPS;enabling installation of programs; enabling running of programs;enabling calendars; enabling calculator; enabling an interface for dataentry; enabling management of digital data and contacts; enablingdisplaying documents in at least one format; enabling word processing,spreadsheets, and document viewing; enabling internet access; enablingcamera functionality; enabling capture of still images or video;enabling sending of still images or video; enabling making, editing, andstoring videos and photos; enabling mp3 player; enabling running of mp3player; enabling video game applications; enabling; enabling near fieldcommunication; audio information input; audio information output; textinformation input; text information output; image information input;image information output; video information input; video informationoutput, and any combination thereof.
 19. A method for increasing thedisplay area of an object comprising: providing a cover materialcomprising display pixels, control lines, and an electrical interface;forming the cover material into a cover with a cavity and an opening tooverlay and snugly fit an object; wherein the electrical interface isconfigured to be connectable to a processor, the processor controllingthe display pixels over the control lines of the cover.
 20. The methodof claim 19 wherein the object is an electronic device.